The 2020-2021 academic year has been extraordinarily challenging for students and staff alike. The promise of accelerating vaccinations and declining cases of COVID-19 has given a boost to student confidence that the summer and next academic year will return to a more active and normal way of life.

Now that our TCS students have entered exams and end-of-year summatives, to demonstrate their understanding of the year’s material, it is a fair time to ask what the School has learned about itself this year.

Here are four key observations that I have taken from this past pandemic year:

Establishing a healthy work-life balance is a common yet elusive goal for most of us. For some, working 9-to-5 seems like the epitome of a good work-life balance but, for others, they find themselves effectively, “living for the weekend.”

With the advent of technology and email, it can now seem like you never “leave work.” Your work is always in your hand, your pocket and on your bedside table. Hmmm…suddenly 9-to-5 looks attractive again! And, of course, during this pandemic, millions of people have been working exclusively from home, prompting one to consider the advantages and disadvantages of working where you live and living where you work.

Clearly, the line between work and play, office and home, is blurred and getting blurrier.

Now, can you imagine being a teacher and living at your school for 14 years? And, along with your spouse, raising your two children at the school. All the while, being responsible for 50 other children in a residential setting.

My kids would attest that, of my many foibles, I am at my least calm when I am stuck in traffic. I have an explanation; not an excuse.

When it comes to commuting to school or work, I have been exceptionally spoiled my entire life. The past 17 years I have had the privilege of living where I work. No car necessary. Prior to this, when we lived in Toronto, I would leave to work before 6:00 a.m. There was very little traffic and it took me 10 minutes to get to my destination. When I lived in Hamilton, Ontario, I would cycle to work. When I worked in Ottawa, for 10 years I lived in residence as a boarding housemaster. Again, no car necessary. During my university days I could walk, skateboard or cycle to class. During high school, again in Ottawa, it took about 20 minutes by car to get to school and the lion’s share of the drive was along the Rideau Canal; there was one traffic light on the canal back then.

We all make mistakes. And, we all know that we will make more. “To err is human.”

But what governs your daily behaviours? Whom do you listen to or take direction from?

Let me ask you a few more questions: Why do you wear a mask during the pandemic? Do you drive the speed limit? Do you stand when you hear another country’s national anthem? Do you respect a moment of silence during a funeral service? Do you have heightened respect for your elders? If there is an extra slice of pizza at a party, who gets it?

There is likely no single authority or rulebook that you rely upon in order to make everyday, routine decisions. It depends. Sometimes there is your own internal voice guiding you. Sometimes you might hear your mother or father’s voice. Perhaps, the Bible or the Koran. A prime minister or premier. The CEO of the company. The policy manual. Your spouse.